A woman named Salma Islam, who was assaulted on Thursday at Dhanmondi 32 during the banned Awami League’s “Dhaka Lockdown” program, has been arrested in a case related to an attempted murder during last year’s July movement. She was produced in court on Friday (November 14), where her bail was denied and she was sent to jail.
Salma Islam, 42, is a resident of Azimpur and a housewife. A video circulated widely on social media showed her being beaten after she chanted “Joy Bangla.” Police said bystanders handed her over to law enforcement following the incident.
According to the investigation officer, SI Anwar Hossain, Salma was arrested as a suspect in a case filed over the July 19, 2024 shooting of a student in Dhanmondi. He stated that “preliminary investigation information” and witness accounts linked her to the incident. The original case, filed on December 1 last year, alleges that a student of European University was injured in gunfire by Awami League-backed armed men during the July movement. The case names 37 individuals, including Obaidul Quader.
Salma’s lawyer, Abul Hossain Patwari, rejected the allegations, calling her arrest unjust. “She is the victim. A woman who was beaten has now been made an accused in the July case. This is completely unfair,” he said.
Police stated that the arrest was made “on the basis of instructions from higher authorities and available evidence.”
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